419 scam: "Sergio Caba" <sergio.caba@uem.mz> FREE AWARD DEPT.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "claims_dept001@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447035936134 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sergio Caba" <sergio.caba@uem.mz>
Reply-To: fda.cliamsdept001@07168.cn
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 13:34:00 +0300
Subject: FREE AWARD DEPT.

FREE AWARD DEPT.
16 Broad Street,
Woolich, Middle Essex
L70 1NL.LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE

We happily announce to you the draw (#1081) of the FREE LOTTO AWARDS, online
Sweepstakes International program held on Sat. 29th May, 2010. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 005 with Serial number 5368/13
drew the lucky numbers: 09-11-22-39-40-42(bonus no.12), which subsequently
won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus. You have
therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $1,000,000.00(One Million
Dollar) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash
prize of $7,000,000.00 shared amongst the (7) lucky winners in this category
i.e. Daily Jackpot.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.

This promotion takes place weekly (wed and sat). Please note that your lucky
winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in
Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your $1,000,000.00
(One Million Dollar) would be released to you by any of our payment offices
in Europe . Our European agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact your
fiduciary agent with the details below:

Name of Fiduciary Agent: Mr. Stive Lowe.
Email: claims_dept001@live.co.uk
Tel: +44 7035936134
www.freelotto.com
FREE LOTTO AWARDS SERVICE OFFICER.

Note: You are to contact your fiduciary agent immediately and provide him
with your ticket number, Winning Email Address and your lucky numbers so that
he can help you in processing the release of your winnings to you as soon as
possible.

Congratulations from the staff and thank you for being part of email account
users program:

Dr. P. Swier, Mr. Gerald Goodman (Manager Foreign Operations), Mr. Franklyn
Van Der Weijden (Manager Domestic Banking Operations), Dr. James Williams
(Director International funds Department), Mrs. Sandra Murphy (Executive),
Mr. Michael Cole (Executive), Mr. Stephen Boer (Chairman).MRS JULIE VAN HANS
(VICE PRESIDENT).

Sincerely,
Mr. Walter Fribs.
Online Coordinators.
FREE LOTTO AWARDS BOARD.

NOTE: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the Winners will result
to disqualification. Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims
officer immediately. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
please remember to quote your reference number in every one of your
correspondences.

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